Background terminology
Background Support, Puerto Rico. General.
Words you'll see on your RABS digital voucher and hear from the crew on set.
| Background Actors (BG) | Performers hired to create atmosphere in a scene. Also known as extras. |
|---|---|
| Assistant Director (AD) | The on-set manager for the production's director and producers. Responsible for crew management, scheduling, and creating scenes, among many other duties. There are different types of ADs, each with their own duties. |
| Background Production Assistant (BG PA) | A member of the AD department, usually responsible for running the RABS app and coordinating the BG. |
| Holding | The area designated for background performers to sign in, eat, wait, and rest during a work day. |
| Call time | When a background performer is expected to be at holding. Your day officially begins here. |
| Wrap time | When a background performer finishes work for the day. The official end of daily pay. |
| Adjustments | An increase to a performer's daily base rate. Affects hourly and overtime wages. |
| Allowances / Bumps | A flat payment added to a performer's wage with no effect on the daily base rate. |
| Meal penalties (MPV) | Paid when a union performer exceeds 6 hours of work without a meal break. A penalty is added for each half hour (or part of one) past six hours. |
| Non-deductible breakfast (NDB) | A meal, usually 15 minutes, given without deducting from daily hours or wage. The end of the NDB starts the 6-hour clock for MPVs. |
| Grace | A 12-minute period for the crew to finish a current shot. Helps avoid MPVs. |
| Night premium (NP) | Additional compensation for union performers working between 8 pm and 6 am. |
| Golden time (GT) | Additional compensation when a union performer's work day passes 16 total hours. |